Git Mailing List Archive mirror
 help / color / mirror / Atom feed
From: Eric Sunshine <sunshine@sunshineco.com>
To: Jacob Abel <jacobabel@nullpo.dev>
Cc: git@vger.kernel.org, "Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason" <avarab@gmail.com>,
	"Taylor Blau" <me@ttaylorr.com>
Subject: Re: [PATCH v3 0/2] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees
Date: Tue, 15 Nov 2022 19:39:21 -0500	[thread overview]
Message-ID: <CAPig+cTTn764ObHJuw8epOtBdTUwocVRV=tLieCa4zf-PGCegw@mail.gmail.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20221110233137.10414-1-jacobabel@nullpo.dev>

On Thu, Nov 10, 2022 at 6:32 PM Jacob Abel <jacobabel@nullpo.dev> wrote:
> While working with the worktree based git workflow, I realised that setting
> up a new git repository required switching between the traditional and
> worktree based workflows. Searching online I found a SO answer [1] which
> seemed to support this and which indicated that adding support for this should
> not be technically difficult.
>
>   * adding orphan branch functionality (as is present in `git-switch`)
>     to `git-worktree-add`

I haven't had a chance yet to read v3, but can we take a step back for
a moment and look at this topic from a slightly different angle?
Setting aside the value of adding --orphan to `git worktree add`
(which, I'm perfectly fine with, as mentioned earlier), I have a
question about whether the solution proposed by this series is the
best we can do.

As I understand it, the actual problem this series wants to solve is
that it's not possible to create a new worktree from an empty bare
repository; for instance:

    % git init --bare foo.git
    % git -C foo.git worktree add -b main bar
    Preparing worktree (new branch 'main')
    fatal: not a valid object name: 'HEAD'
    %

This series addresses that shortcoming by adding --orphan, so that the
following works:

    % git init --bare foo.git
    % git -C foo.git worktree add --orphan main bar
    Preparing worktree (new branch 'main')
    %

However, is this really the best and most user-friendly and most
discoverable solution? Is it likely that users are somehow going to
instinctively use --orphan when they see the "fatal: not a valid
object name: 'HEAD'" error message?

Wouldn't a better solution be to somehow fix `git worktree add -b
<branch>` so that it just works rather than erroring out? I haven't
delved into the implementation to determine if this is possible, but
if it is, it seems a far superior "fix" for the problem shown above
since it requires no extra effort on the user's part, and doesn't
raise any discoverability red-flags (since nothing needs to be
"discovered" if `-b <branch>` works as expected in the first place).

If fixing `-b <branch>` to "just work" is possible, then --orphan is
no longer a needed workaround but becomes "icing on the cake".

> Changes from v2:
>
>   * Changed orphan creation behavior to match `git switch --orphan` instead of
>     `git checkout --orphan` [2][3]. As a result `--orphan` no longer accepts a
>     `<commit-ish>` and creates the orphan branch with a clean working directory.

Thanks for making this change.

  parent reply	other threads:[~2022-11-16  0:39 UTC|newest]

Thread overview: 132+ messages / expand[flat|nested]  mbox.gz  Atom feed  top
2022-11-04  1:02 [PATCH 0/4] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  1:03 ` [PATCH 1/4] worktree add: Include -B in usage docs Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  3:05   ` Eric Sunshine
2022-11-04  4:24     ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  1:03 ` [PATCH 2/4] builtin/worktree.c: Update checkout_worktree() to use git-worktree Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  1:32   ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-04  3:58     ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-04 20:45     ` Taylor Blau
2022-11-04  1:03 ` [PATCH 3/4] worktree add: add --orphan flag Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  1:33   ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-04  4:11     ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  5:03   ` Eric Sunshine
2022-11-04 16:41     ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-10  4:13       ` Eric Sunshine
2022-11-10 21:21         ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  1:03 ` [PATCH 4/4] worktree add: Add unit tests for --orphan Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  1:37   ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-04  4:17     ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  4:33 ` [PATCH 0/4] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Eric Sunshine
2022-11-04  4:47   ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-04  4:50   ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-04 21:34 ` [PATCH v2 0/2] " Jacob Abel
2022-11-04 21:34   ` [PATCH v2 1/2] worktree add: Include -B in usage docs Jacob Abel
2022-11-04 21:34   ` [PATCH v2 2/2] worktree add: add --orphan flag Jacob Abel
2022-11-10 23:32   ` [PATCH v3 0/2] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Jacob Abel
2022-11-10 23:32     ` [PATCH v3 1/2] worktree add: Include -B in usage docs Jacob Abel
2022-11-10 23:32     ` [PATCH v3 2/2] worktree add: add --orphan flag Jacob Abel
2022-11-15 21:08       ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-15 21:29         ` Eric Sunshine
2022-11-15 22:35           ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-16  0:19             ` Eric Sunshine
2022-11-19  3:13               ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-19  3:09             ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-19 11:50               ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-19  1:44         ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-22  6:00           ` Eric Sunshine
2022-11-22 23:09             ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-15 22:09       ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-19  2:57         ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-19 11:50           ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-16  0:39     ` Eric Sunshine [this message]
2022-11-17 10:00       ` [PATCH v3 0/2] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-19  3:47         ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-19 11:48           ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-22  5:16             ` Eric Sunshine
2022-11-22 23:26               ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-22 23:55                 ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-11-23  2:47                   ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-23  2:43                 ` Rubén Justo
2022-11-23  5:37                   ` Jacob Abel
2022-11-23  7:35                     ` Rubén Justo
2022-11-22 14:45           ` Phillip Wood
2022-11-23  4:21             ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-12  1:42     ` [PATCH v4 0/3] " Jacob Abel
2022-12-12  1:42       ` [PATCH v4 1/3] worktree add: Include -B in usage docs Jacob Abel
2022-12-12  1:42       ` [PATCH v4 2/3] worktree add: add --orphan flag Jacob Abel
2022-12-12  8:11         ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-12-12 14:55           ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-12 18:14             ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-12-12 22:39               ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-12  1:43       ` [PATCH v4 3/3] worktree add: Add hint to use --orphan when bad ref Jacob Abel
2022-12-12  8:35         ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-12-12 14:59           ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-12 18:16             ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-12-12 18:35               ` Eric Sunshine
2022-12-12 22:36                 ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-12 22:38               ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  2:37       ` [PATCH v5 0/4] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  2:37         ` [PATCH v5 1/4] worktree add: Include -B in usage docs Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  3:42           ` Junio C Hamano
2022-12-20 23:24             ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  2:37         ` [PATCH v5 2/4] worktree add: refactor opt exclusion tests Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  4:00           ` Junio C Hamano
2022-12-20 23:29             ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  2:38         ` [PATCH v5 3/4] worktree add: add --orphan flag Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  4:19           ` Junio C Hamano
2022-12-21  0:17             ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  2:38         ` [PATCH v5 4/4] worktree add: Add hint to use --orphan when bad ref Jacob Abel
2022-12-20  6:18           ` Junio C Hamano
2022-12-21  0:42             ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-28  6:16         ` [PATCH v6 0/4] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Jacob Abel
2022-12-28  6:16           ` [PATCH v6 1/4] worktree add: include -B in usage docs Jacob Abel
2022-12-28  6:16           ` [PATCH v6 2/4] worktree add: refactor opt exclusion tests Jacob Abel
2022-12-28 12:54             ` Junio C Hamano
2022-12-29  6:51               ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-29 10:07                 ` Junio C Hamano
2022-12-29 20:48                   ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-06  6:31                   ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-06 12:34                     ` Junio C Hamano
2023-01-07  4:45                       ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-28  6:17           ` [PATCH v6 3/4] worktree add: add --orphan flag Jacob Abel
2022-12-28  6:17           ` [PATCH v6 4/4] worktree add: add hint to direct users towards --orphan Jacob Abel
2023-01-06 14:19             ` Phillip Wood
2022-12-28  8:01           ` [PATCH v6 0/4] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-12-29  6:38             ` Jacob Abel
2022-12-29 10:42               ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2022-12-29 21:22                 ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-07  4:58           ` [PATCH v7 " Jacob Abel
2023-01-07  4:59             ` [PATCH v7 1/4] worktree add: include -B in usage docs Jacob Abel
2023-01-07  4:59             ` [PATCH v7 2/4] worktree add: refactor opt exclusion tests Jacob Abel
2023-01-08  7:13               ` Junio C Hamano
2023-01-08 15:08                 ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-07  4:59             ` [PATCH v7 3/4] worktree add: add --orphan flag Jacob Abel
2023-01-07  4:59             ` [PATCH v7 4/4] worktree add: add hint to direct users towards --orphan Jacob Abel
2023-01-09 12:26             ` [PATCH v7 0/4] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2023-01-09 17:11               ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-09 17:21                 ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2023-01-09 17:26                   ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-09 17:32             ` [PATCH v8 " Jacob Abel
2023-01-09 17:32               ` [PATCH v8 1/4] worktree add: include -B in usage docs Jacob Abel
2023-01-09 17:33               ` [PATCH v8 2/4] worktree add: refactor opt exclusion tests Jacob Abel
2023-01-09 17:33               ` [PATCH v8 3/4] worktree add: add --orphan flag Jacob Abel
2023-01-13 10:20                 ` Phillip Wood
2023-01-13 17:32                   ` Junio C Hamano
2023-01-14 22:47                   ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-15  3:09                     ` Junio C Hamano
2023-01-15  3:41                       ` rsbecker
2023-01-15  3:49                         ` Junio C Hamano
2023-01-18 22:46                           ` 'Jacob Abel'
2023-01-18 22:18                       ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-19 15:32                         ` Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2023-01-19 16:32                           ` Junio C Hamano
2023-01-16 10:47                     ` Phillip Wood
2023-01-18 22:40                       ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-19 16:18                         ` Phillip Wood
2023-01-19 22:20                           ` Jacob Abel
2023-01-09 17:33               ` [PATCH v8 4/4] worktree add: add hint to direct users towards --orphan Jacob Abel
2023-01-09 19:20               ` [PATCH v8 0/4] worktree: Support `--orphan` when creating new worktrees Ævar Arnfjörð Bjarmason
2023-01-13 17:34                 ` Junio C Hamano
  -- strict thread matches above, loose matches on Subject: below --
2022-12-08 21:41 [PATCH v3 0/2] " Jacob Abel
2022-12-08 22:00 ` rsbecker
2022-12-12  0:38   ` 'Jacob Abel'

Reply instructions:

You may reply publicly to this message via plain-text email
using any one of the following methods:

* Save the following mbox file, import it into your mail client,
  and reply-to-all from there: mbox

  Avoid top-posting and favor interleaved quoting:
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_style#Interleaved_style

* Reply using the --to, --cc, and --in-reply-to
  switches of git-send-email(1):

  git send-email \
    --in-reply-to='CAPig+cTTn764ObHJuw8epOtBdTUwocVRV=tLieCa4zf-PGCegw@mail.gmail.com' \
    --to=sunshine@sunshineco.com \
    --cc=avarab@gmail.com \
    --cc=git@vger.kernel.org \
    --cc=jacobabel@nullpo.dev \
    --cc=me@ttaylorr.com \
    /path/to/YOUR_REPLY

  https://kernel.org/pub/software/scm/git/docs/git-send-email.html

* If your mail client supports setting the In-Reply-To header
  via mailto: links, try the mailto: link
Be sure your reply has a Subject: header at the top and a blank line before the message body.
This is a public inbox, see mirroring instructions
for how to clone and mirror all data and code used for this inbox;
as well as URLs for read-only IMAP folder(s) and NNTP newsgroup(s).